MESA, Ariz. >> The Athletics have moved about an hour east from Oakland to the Sacramento area, where they will be based in a minor league ballpark for the next three seasons while hoping a more permanent home in Las Vegas will be ready in 2028.

If this doesn’t sound like the ideal situation for a Major League Baseball franchise, that’s because it’s not. But these vagabond A’s enter their Sacramento era with something a little unexpected considering the circumstances: playoff expectations.

“It’s different,” slugger Brent Rooker said. “The emphasis is always on winning and that’s always the main goal. But when you’re playing at this level against this kind of competition, there’s a certain barrier to entry in terms of you have to have good enough players, who have had enough success and confidence before that winning becomes realistic.

“Now we’ve reached that point.”

The Athletics look to be a contender in the AL West, which doesn’t have an obvious favorite. They were 69-93 last season and haven’t made the playoffs since 2020 but were 32-32 after the all-star break.

During the offseason, owner John Fisher did something that’s been rare in the recent past — spend money. Rooker signed a $60 million, five-year deal to stay with the franchise and the A’s signed a quality starting pitcher in right-hander Luis Severino, who agreed to a $67 million, three-year contract.

Last week, the Athletics extended manager Mark Kotsay in a deal that could keep him with the franchise through 2029.

“There’s a sense of comfort for a lot of guys — we know who we are,” outfielder JJ Bleday said.”

Arenado whiffs

If Nolan Arenado was hoping to showcase himself to a suitor, it didn’t quite work out that way.

The St. Louis Cardinals third baseman made the three-hour, cross-state drive to play in an exhibition game against the New York Yankees, among the teams that may be open to acquiring him in a trade. He went 0 for 3 with three strikeouts.

“I didn’t come here for that,” Arenado told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “Day 3 of spring training. That wouldn’t be a good day to showcase myself. I’m not ready for that.”

Arenado is on the trade market because of declining production and a contract that will pay him $74 million over the next three seasons.

Briefly

Angels >> Three-time AL MVP Mike Trout hit his first homer of spring training, a solo shot over the left-field wall as the Los Angeles Angels star tries to bounce back from several injury-filled seasons.

Phillies >> Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson said the team is “not really over-concerned at all” about Bryce Harper after the Philadelphia slugger left Wednesday’s exhibition game against Toronto when he was hit on an arm by a pitch.

Dodgers >> Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts says three-time Most Valuable Player Shohei Ohtani will make his first spring training appearance of the year on Friday night against his old team, the Los Angeles Angels.

Brewers >> Milwaukee pitcher JB Bukauskas is expected to miss the entire season because of lat surgery, the latest injury-related setback for a former first-round draft pick.